Division I

Baseball

John Zenor | The Associated Press | May 25, 2014

McMullen homer lifts LSU to SEC crown

HOOVER, Ala. -- Sean McMullen hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift LSU to a 2-0 victory against Florida on Sunday in the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game.

The Tigers (44-14-1) were locked in a scoreless duel before McMullen launched his sixth home run over the right field fence. They've won five of the past seven SEC tournament titles, two in a row and 11 overall.

The top-seeded Gators (40-21) managed just two hits against four LSU pitchers.

McMullen also walked twice before delivering the decisive hit. Jake Fraley had singled after Alex Bregman was picked off at first.

McMullen didn't pause to savor the moment, sprinting around the bases. Teammate Tyler Moore was named tournament MVP.

It was the lowest scoring title game since the SEC went to the current format in 1996 and the third shutout.

Kurt McCune pitched two scoreless innings for his fifth save.

The Gators sent the top of their lineup to the plate in the ninth against McCune.

McCune walked Casey Turgeon to open the inning, then got Richie Martin to ground into a double play to shortstop. Harrison Bader grounded to first to end the game.

Florida pitchers mostly contained an LSU team that had outscored its last seven opponents 85-8.

The Gators turned two double plays and LSU had three.

Zac Person (3-1) pitched a perfect inning to get the win. Starter Alden Cartwright went four innings while Nate Fury pitched two.

Gators starter Karsten Winston pitched six-plus scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking three and hitting two batters. He left after plunking Tyler Moore to start the seventh and reliever Ryan Harris (3-2) got out of that inning unscathed but gave up the home run.

Winston got Kade Scivicque to hit into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the sixth.